Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

I prefer to know a game's business model up front before deciding whether to play it. When a company advertises a game as "free to play", they're trying to hide the business model, as they're never going to truly give away everything for free. Do you think "free to play" will eventually become a derogatory term that marketers avoid for that reason?

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by QuizzicalI prefer to know a game's business model up front before deciding whether to play it. When a company advertises a game as "free to play", they're trying to hide the business model, as they're never going to truly give away everything for free. Do you think "free to play" will eventually become a derogatory term that marketers avoid for that reason?

I don't think of it like that.

If I know it's f2p, I expect I can play a good portion of the game free, however I also expect that the devs will try and get me to pay something. How much I pay is up to me.

Doesn't seem very hidden to me.

I don't think it will be become derogatory. I think it was derogatory and is becoming more accepted, I expect that to continue.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

For a new game, I see this being a slight issue, but most of the major F2P games out have forum posts and boatloads of info out there. It only takes a few minutes to find out if a game makes you pay at the end to remain viable. Nexon games, for example.

A little research beforehand and you can save yourself a LOT of disappointment.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by nariusseldon

Most games are pretty up front. You can check out the cashshop the moment you first log into the game.

Which is to say, they won't tell you until after you download the game and start playing. And even then, it takes a while to understand just how strong the things in the item mall are or aren't. And even if you know what's in the item mall today, what's there in a month won't necessarily be all that similar--especially if they're relying heavily on random boxes with constantly changing contents.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

P2W is a derogatory term. F2P is not, and will never be. F2P models for MMORPGs are meant to appeal to the short term players that hop from game to game. MMORPG players are kind of notorious for "completing" MMORPGs at a massively faster rate than SRPGs. I can tell you (or someone you know) probably got burned or spent too much money on a single game.

F2P is not targetted at the traditional MMORPG gamers.

I played WoW up until WotLK, played RoM for 2 years and now Rift.I am F2P player. I support games when I feel they deserve my money and I want the items enough.I don't troll, and I don't take kindly to trolls.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by VengeSunsoar

Originally posted by QuizzicalI prefer to know a game's business model up front before deciding whether to play it. When a company advertises a game as "free to play", they're trying to hide the business model, as they're never going to truly give away everything for free. Do you think "free to play" will eventually become a derogatory term that marketers avoid for that reason?

I don't think of it like that.

If I know it's f2p, I expect I can play a good portion of the game free, however I also expect that the devs will try and get me to pay something. How much I pay is up to me.

Doesn't seem very hidden to me.

I don't think it will be become derogatory. I think it was derogatory and is becoming more accepted, I expect that to continue.

I agree, most games are pretty up front on what your going to be paying etc. Also, as long as you do proper resreach a game should not surprise you anyway.

Report this post

Most games are pretty up front. You can check out the cashshop the moment you first log into the game.

Which is to say, they won't tell you until after you download the game and start playing. And even then, it takes a while to understand just how strong the things in the item mall are or aren't. And even if you know what's in the item mall today, what's there in a month won't necessarily be all that similar--especially if they're relying heavily on random boxes with constantly changing contents.

So, what does it matter, as long as youre having fun. As soon as you stop having fun, you are free to stop playing. Noone is forcing you to pay.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by VengeSunsoar

Originally posted by QuizzicalI prefer to know a game's business model up front before deciding whether to play it. When a company advertises a game as "free to play", they're trying to hide the business model, as they're never going to truly give away everything for free. Do you think "free to play" will eventually become a derogatory term that marketers avoid for that reason?

I don't think of it like that.

If I know it's f2p, I expect I can play a good portion of the game free, however I also expect that the devs will try and get me to pay something. How much I pay is up to me.

Doesn't seem very hidden to me.

I don't think it will be become derogatory. I think it was derogatory and is becoming more accepted, I expect that to continue.

This is how I think about it.

These games are "free to play" You can play them and not spend a dime.

doesnt' mean the developers/producers aren't going to put things in to tempt you to spend.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Well, I was doing just fine with the $60 box and $15 a month model. I can afford that and I can justify that, but no more. Now I have to keep track of how much I spend, and total it up monthly. Then I have to figure out if spending that much will get me enough to enjoy the game and have acess to everything, depending on how much time I am willing to invest.

I don't like it. I like the old way, nice and simple and I don't have to look over my shoulder to make sure I'm not getting taken for a ride.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

In a single player or co-op game then the F2P mentality of paying whatever you feel like to pay for, might work. However in a competetive game it is completely ridicilous to allow for shortcuts, if you open your wallet.

More over, it takes away the value of achievements and rewards if you know that you can just fork out money and get that item or fork out money to make it easier to reach some achievement. It is just flawed way to play a game. You are suppose to play a game, not pay to game. Except the initial box price and a sub fee, but that is the same for everyone playing the game.

Report this post

Most games are pretty up front. You can check out the cashshop the moment you first log into the game.

Which is to say, they won't tell you until after you download the game and start playing. And even then, it takes a while to understand just how strong the things in the item mall are or aren't. And even if you know what's in the item mall today, what's there in a month won't necessarily be all that similar--especially if they're relying heavily on random boxes with constantly changing contents.

You hit on my least favorite free to play model, gamble boxes. Unfortunately they seem to be becoming more common. They're almost an evolution of the F2P model. Where it was once subs, it was then microtransactions, now its micro-gambling.

I've been lucky enough to cut ties with MMOs as of late, I have no willpower when it comes to impulse buying and decided to avoid the scene altogether.

As much as I hate to admit, I think folks with mentality like Nariusseldon have the advantage here. (Going solely off the comment of being able to quit the second it isn't fun anymore)

MMOs are quickly going the route of what I can only refer to as player mills. Play with the mentality of 'get in, see whats free, move on' and you'll likely enjoy what F2P offers. More than that, you'll be broke and/or disappointed and resort to browsing the forums at MMORPG.com.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

its exactly as the op states if you see it any other way your deluding yourself. These games f2p or not cost alot of money to make and they are going to get thiers in the end to make a profit. If you think a company is going to publish a f2p game and not have a business plan to make money in thier shops your out of your gord. The real question is, is the shop only selling costmetics or other things that imbalance the game. These games may only start as cosmetic only and over time they will add other things and eventually they will add an item that is pay to win. With a subscription your garunteed all content for 15 bucks a month no strings attached. f2p needs to die, buy to play is kind of in the middle for me.

Report this post

Yes, most on this site know that I'm not against f2p. I'm not really for it either, I am just completely ambivelent.

However I do find the "gamble boxes" are too much, they are the bad parts of f2p. I won't touch them.

Is it akin to gambling in a casino? In some ways however IMO there is a different mentality.

I don't go to casino's very often however when I do it is for entertainment. I fully expect to lose some money, winning is just a bonus. The casino and gambling itself is the entertainment.

In a game, the game is the entertainment. I expect to pay something for the game. I don't expect to pay something thatmake maybe possibly give give me something that might maybe possible make the game a little better.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by Yamota

In a single player or co-op game then the F2P mentality of paying whatever you feel like to pay for, might work. However in a competetive game it is completely ridicilous to allow for shortcuts, if you open your wallet.

More over, it takes away the value of achievements and rewards if you know that you can just fork out money and get that item or fork out money to make it easier to reach some achievement. It is just flawed way to play a game. You are suppose to play a game, not pay to game. Except the initial box price and a sub fee, but that is the same for everyone playing the game.

If you are forking out money, you don't want to be on par with everyone else do you? Do you think that model will sustain in a competitive environment? IF not, that just leaves the f2p players around in the long run.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by QuizzicalI prefer to know a game's business model up front before deciding whether to play it. When a company advertises a game as "free to play", they're trying to hide the business model, as they're never going to truly give away everything for free. Do you think "free to play" will eventually become a derogatory term that marketers avoid for that reason?

Nope, simply because almost everyone already knows what the term means and most are fine with it. Never confuse the general concensus here with reality of the rest of the world.

There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein

Report this post

Most games are pretty up front. You can check out the cashshop the moment you first log into the game.

Which is to say, they won't tell you until after you download the game and start playing. And even then, it takes a while to understand just how strong the things in the item mall are or aren't. And even if you know what's in the item mall today, what's there in a month won't necessarily be all that similar--especially if they're relying heavily on random boxes with constantly changing contents.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

I have yet to pay a single penny in any F2P game and I never will. Then again, I don't play these games to be some dick-swinging asshat who is out to compete with everyone else. I play to have fun. When I stop having fun, I stop playing. It's as simple as that.

Report this post

Explain why you are reporting this post:(750 characters max.)

Originally posted by Yamota

In a single player or co-op game then the F2P mentality of paying whatever you feel like to pay for, might work. However in a competetive game it is completely ridicilous to allow for shortcuts, if you open your wallet.

So don't play competitively. It's quite simple really. Stop acting like playing a game is just an excuse to swing your e-peen around. It's not.

More over, it takes away the value of achievements and rewards if you know that you can just fork out money and get that item or fork out money to make it easier to reach some achievement. It is just flawed way to play a game. You are suppose to play a game, not pay to game. Except the initial box price and a sub fee, but that is the same for everyone playing the game.

There is no objective value in any of that. None of that matters in the real world. I don't give a damn if someone else is paying a million dollars to get things that I can't get, I'm not competing with them so why should I care? I'm playing a game to have fun. I realize that it's nothing more than a time-waster, something to do when I'm bored. That's all games are. If you take them more seriously than that, the issue is with you, not with them.